Craigmillar Castle — Its Historical Associations. 29 



Preston of Preston, Knight, and to his heirs, " the 

 lands of Cragmelor, with their castle, fortalice, and 

 mill, and the patronage and donation of the chapel 

 founded in the lands of Cameron " ; and the King 

 incorporated all the same in the free barony of 

 Craigmillar. Again, on June 5, 1543, the Queen con- 

 ceded to Simon Preston, son and heir-apparent of 

 George Preston, and Janet, his spouse, the lands and 

 barony of Cragmelor, with castle, fortalice, and mill. 

 Sir Simon Preston was, on August 15, 1565, on the 

 representation of Queen Mary, made Lord Provost of 

 Edinburgh, but he afterwards broke awa)^ from his 

 allegiance, and it was in his house that the Queen 

 was lodged the night before she was carried to Loch- 

 leven. In Fountainhall's ' Historical Notices' (p. 189) 

 it is stated that on May 2, 1678, John Preston was 

 excluded by the Duke of Lauderdale from commission, 

 as one inchned to burn too many as witches. We 

 learn on the same authority (p. 200) that John Preston, 

 along with other three, were on commission to judge 

 seven who were defamed as witches in Loanhead. 

 Reverting to Craigmillar, it is perhaps worthy of 



